Man in Santa suit shot at D.C. toy giveaway (Video)

WASHINGTON – A man in a Santa suit was shot with a pellet gun during a gift giveaway event in Southeast D.C. Tuesday morning.

The man dressed as Santa, Xavier Hawkins, was shot in the back with a pellet gun during a holiday toy event in the Barry Farms community of D.C. at about 9 a.m., according to ABC7’s Kris Van Cleave. Two shots were fired from a nearby building — one of which struck the man in the Santa suit, police told ABC7.

Emergency crews transported the man dressed as Santa to an area hospital and he is expected to be OK, according to ABC7. The toy drive continued after the incident.

A man in a Grinch suit filled in for the man in the Santa suit, who had been working at the event for the past seven years, ABC7 reports.

Police say the person who shot the pellet gun has not yet been located.